Jacob Lawrence The First Book of Moses Called Genesis Bound Book Featuring 8 Color Screenprints Signed Edition of 400

Artist: Jacob Lawrence
Title: The First Book of Moses Called Genesis
Medium: Bound book of 8 color screenprints and text, printed by Limited Editions Club, New York; printed at Osiris Screen Printing, NY (George Drexel, master printer) with original black linen-covered clamshell box
Dimensions: 19 5/8" x 14 3/8"
Year: 1989/1990
Inscription: Signed and numbered by artist
Edition: 357/400 + 50 HC
Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity

The prints illustrate and accompany the King James Version of the book of Genesis.

Jacob Lawrence's "The First Book of Moses Called Genesis" is a remarkable series of eight screenprints created between 1989 and 1990. Each print is a testament to Lawrence's artistic brilliance, showcasing his unique ability to visually interpret and enhance the narrative of the King James Version of the book of Genesis. The series stands as a powerful fusion of artistic and biblical expression, with Lawrence's distinctive visual language breathing new life into the timeless stories. Jacob Lawrence's "The First Book of Moses Called Genesis" transcends the boundaries of artistic disciplines, seamlessly blending visual storytelling with the profound narratives of Genesis. As a cohesive and limited edition series, this collection of screenprints not only enriches the legacy of Jacob Lawrence but also invites viewers to engage with the timeless tales of Genesis in a fresh and visually captivating manner.

These book is signed by the artist but are numbered as part of a limited edition of 400, with an additional 50 H.C. (hors commerce) prints. The collaborative effort involved in bringing this series to life is noteworthy. Printed by the esteemed Limited Editions Club in New York and executed at Osiris Screen Printing, NY, under the guidance of master printer George Drexel, the craftsmanship and attention to detail are evident. The use of original black linen-covered clamshell boxes adds a touch of sophistication, providing a fitting presentation for this significant body of work. Purchase includes a certificate of authenticity from Modern Artifact.

About Jacob Lawrence

Early Life and Career
Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on September 7, 1917, Jacob Lawrence moved with his parents to Easton, Pennsylvania, at the age of 2. When his parents separated in 1924, his mother deposited him and his two younger siblings in foster care in Philadelphia, and went to work in New York City. When he was 13, Lawrence joined his mother in Harlem.

Lawrence was introduced to art shortly after his arrival, when his mother enrolled him in Utopia Children's Center, which had an after-school art program. He dropped out of school at 16 but took classes at the Harlem Art Workshop with Charles Alston and frequently visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

In 1937, Lawrence won a scholarship to the American Artists School in New York. When he graduated in 1939, he received funding from the Works Progress Administration Federal Art Project. He had already developed his own style of modernism, and began creating narrative series, painting 30 or more paintings on one subject. He completed his best-known series, Migration of the Negro or simply The Migration Series, in 1941. The series was exhibited at Edith Halpert's Downtown Gallery in 1942, making Lawrence the first African-American to join the gallery.

World War II and After
At the outbreak of World War II, Lawrence was drafted into the United States Coast Guard. After being briefly stationed in Florida and Massachusetts, he was assigned to be the Coast Guard artist aboard a troopship, documenting the experience of war around the world. He produced 48 paintings during this time, all of which have been lost.

When his tour of duty ended, Lawrence received a Guggenheim Fellowship and painted his War Series. He was also invited by Josef Albers to teach the summer session at Black Mountain College in North Carolina. Albers reportedly hired a private train car to transport Lawrence and his wife to the college so they wouldn't be forced to transfer to the “colored" car when the train crossed the Mason-Dixon Line.

Back in New York after his stint in the south, Lawrence continued to paint. He grew depressed, however, and in 1949, he checked himself into Hillside Hospital in Queens, where he stayed for 11 months. He painted as an inpatient, and the work created during this time differs significantly from his other work, with subdued colors and people who appear resigned or in agony.

After leaving Hillside, Lawrence turned his attention to the theater. In 1951, he painted works based on memories of performances at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. He also began teaching again, first at Pratt Institute and later the New School for Social Research and the Art Students League.

Teaching and Commissions
In 1971, Lawrence accepted a tenured position as a professor at University of Washington in Seattle, where he taught until he retired in 1986. In addition to teaching, he spent much of the rest of his life painting commissions, producing limited-edition prints to help fund nonprofits like the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Children's Defense Fund and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. He also painted murals for the Harold Washington Center in Chicago, the University of Washington and Howard University, as well as a 72-foot mural for New York City's Times Square subway station.

Lawrence painted until a few weeks before he died, on June 9, 2000. Personal Life Lawrence married Gwendolyn Knight, a sculptor and painter, in 1941. She actively supported his work, providing both assistance and criticism, and helped him compose captions for many of his series.